Portrait

Nov

2016

Portrait of a Character – Geordi LaForge

Geordi LaForge got a bum rap in canon.

Origins

The character is, of course, canon. In canon, he has a lot of trouble with women and never seems to really find anyone. His blindness is clear canon and people treat him and his different ability with respect. However eventually, in the films, he gets implants. The reason is because it probably made for easier storytelling.

Portrayal

Geordi La Forge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As in canon, Geordi is played by actor Levar Burton.

This intelligent actor could have usually used better scripts. Also, I would have liked to have seen him confronting prejudice, for one thing. It’s one of the reasons I wrote Crackerjack in the first place.

Personality

Very smart and responsible, and uber-nerdy, Geordi is an affable guy who always seems to be in the friendzone.

Relationships

Geordi has canon relationships but I won’t enumerate them here.

Rosemary Parker

During the events depicted in Crackerjack, Geordi and Rosemary share a brief romance. He pays enough attention to her life to look her up. Hence he learns that she was arrested with Martin Luther King, Jr. after she married a man with the surname of Warren. This rather neatly makes her an ancestor of the woman I write as becoming Wesley Crusher‘s wife, Lakeisha Warren.

Theme Music

Crackerjack has a ton of period music, but nothing really speaks to me as a theme for Geordi.

Mirror Universe

It’s hard to say whether a Mirror Universe Geordi could exist at all.

Portrait of a Character – Geordi LaForge

He would be extra-smart, to be sure, but I write the MU as being leery of physical weaknesses and imperfections – and blindness would be right up there as a not so small problem.

If he could easily and seamlessly be fitted with ocular implants, perhaps as an infant, then he could survive and maybe even thrive on the other side of the pond.

Quote

“No, that’s all right. But the young lady who is with us, maybe she would like to do that. I can’t figure these people out. Some of them wouldn’t be caught dead being anywhere near me, while others are going out of their way to be kind or even charitable in their own way.”

Upshot

One great bit of fun I had was, in the Barnstorming series, to find a place for Geordi in the Hayes–Beckett–O’Day–Reed–Madden–Digiorno family. His place is as secure as Richard Daniels‘s. He’ll be back (he has to; he’s canon).

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Nov

2016

Portrait of a Character – Yi’imspi

Yi’imspi is kind of evil.

Origins

When I first began to write Yi’imspi (spoiler alert!!!), I did not picture her as being the villain of the piece. She was just another Calafan, although she was a part of the Barnstorming series. The idea was to give this beloved original species a future. But then things took a turn.

Portrayal

Yi’imspi

Yi’imspi is played by actress Tilda Swinton. I really love this actress’s exotic look, which I feel shows off the Calafans well. I also feel she could convincingly be both an athlete and a model.

And a double-crossing spy.

Personality

Secretive, intelligent, and seductive, Yi’imspi is out for only one thing – to promote and improve the life of Yi’imspi. But for Section 31 and other factions trying to use her, she cares little. It doesn’t matter to her who wins this political tug of war.

Relationships

Tag Shaw

A quick hookup and nothing more, Yi’imspi and her fellow team member meet unintentionally while the team is on break and he is taking a spiritual pilgrimage to see the Great Plume of Agasoria.

But Tag (Darren) has been hitting on other female team members, including the Caitian, M’Belle. He isn’t looking for anything, and neither is she.

The third sex team member, the Imvari named Grosk, is interested, but they are sexually incompatible. She is kind to him, though. I had not conceived of her as the villain yet, so she’s pleasant there.

By the time the alternate timeline is created by her own actions, the Emperor of the Terran Empire takes a shine. Then again, he is in dire straits at the time. She only wants one thing from him, and that’s information. She doesn’t want to sleep with him.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to Yi’imspi existing in the Mirror.

Tilda Swinton as MU Yi’imspi (image is for educational purposes only)

I write Mirror Universe women as being as ruthless as the men, but often needing protection. After all, the percentage of women is smaller than that of men. But that’s really only true for Terrans. Is it true for Calafans?

Not necessarily.

As a double-crossing spy, she is already a lot like a Mirror Universe denizen. There might not be too much of a difference.

Quote

“I thought I saw you hitting on M’Belle. I believe I have also seen you hitting on Cilla and maybe also Adeel.”

Upshot

Villain characters are always fun to write, but this series was not well thought out when it was started. Hence her behavior has to change, almost in the middle of things. I am sure there are better ways I could have handled this character.

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Oct

2016

Portrait of a Character – Emmet Kent Hoberman

Emmet Kent Hoberman is a character I have changed a few times.

Origins

English: Ed Norton at the 2009 premiere of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Photographer’s blog post about event and photograph. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the first-ever game played by The Black Sheep barnstorming team, the idea was that the team would play hockey. This would be with a team of members of a military unit on Andoria. It was to be the place where, if the O’Day–Beckett marriage had ended at the end of Together, Doug would have ended up. Instead, it’s more like a footnote until this story.

Portrayal

Hobie is played by actor Edward Norton. I had used this actor for the HG Wells series and liked him and wanted to revisit him. But instead of being ADHD-addled Levi Cavendish, he would be a decent military guy.

Personality

Affable, a little shy, and very formal, Kent is a divorced guy who rarely goes out. Then he meets Dana MacKenzie, and his interest is piqued. This is because she is more aggressive and sporting than he has seen before. But then things go too far, too fast.

Relationships

Sandy Hoberman

Kent’s estranged wife left while still pregnant with their second daughter. I have nothing on her and I only mention her. She is never on screen. The idea is that it was a painful, messy divorce. All Hobie cares about is being able to see Katie and Nichole, his children.

Dana MacKenzie

With Dana, there isn’t too much of a relationship. They enjoy each other’s company and communicate a little, but that’s it. Neither of them try very hard as she is hung up on Martin Madden. And Kent, regardless of what he says, is still mourning his broken marriage.

Darragh Masterson

In an alternate timeline, MU Kent is attached to Darragh, who is an Augment descendant (and is probably an ancestor of both Darragh Stratton and Rick Daniels‘s mother, Chloe Masterson). Is Kent also an Augment descendant? I don’t know.

Mirror Universe

Seen briefly during an iteration where Rick is still trying to repair the timeline, Kent is a survivalist and stuck on a planet in the old Delphic Expanse.

MU Emmet Kent Hoberman

He is also with Darragh Masterson but, when they are in communications with the Enterprise-E, he checks out Dana, much to Darragh’s chagrin.

Quote

“I don’t normally go to bed with women so quickly. You can tell I don’t exactly have the smoothest moves out there. But, um, please don’t get dressed and please don’t leave, okay? ‘Cause I, uh, nobody’s stayed here in, God, she left before Nichole was even born. I swear I won’t touch anything or do anything that you don’t wanna do. Because I just, I want your company. I hope you want mine a little, too.”

Upshot

For a character I wa originally going to quickly kill off or at least dismiss, Hobie ended up with a fairly complicated and interesting life, I feel.

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Oct

2016

Portrait of a Character – Daniya

Daniya is a pilot.

Origins

For Mack MacKenzie‘s pilot, I wanted a character who could not only strongly or subtly suggest emotions or maybe just sense them, I wanted that character to also be able to manipulate them. Enter Daniya, who is part-Orion and part-Betazoid.

Portrayal

Portrait of a Character – Daniya

Daniya is played by actress Diora Baird, who was briefly seen as an Orion in the 2009 JJ Abrams film.

I don’t see it as a big stretch to see her a hybrid, particularly with the curly red hair.

Personality

Outgoing and friendly, Daniya is a good pilot but also a bit of a flirt.

Relationships

Daniya is desired by many. The guy who sells the Cookie to Dana leers right at her, ignoring Dana and Crita. But I have not yet written any relationships for her.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to Daniya existing in the Mirror. The image is of course of the actress out of makeup, so the reader is encouraged to use some imagination.

MU Daniya

Like any halfway-decent-looking Mirror Universe female, Daniya would have to live and die by her looks.

Would she be a pilot? Possibly, as the MU Shelby Pike certainly is. But she might end up supplementing her income the same way Shelby does, by hooking.

Quote

“Pilot talk says it’s no good for maintaining your license. It’s too strange. Not like regular shuttle or freighter runs, where you stay in practice with standard Federation designs. But all the same, I like the idea of something different. Regular freighter runs can be pretty run of the mill. Don’t get me wrong; I like to make a few credits as much as anyone else. But the standard fare isn’t too challenging. That ship, though, I bet it would pose a challenge.”

Upshot

This character has potential, but I know I haven’t done enough with her. In particular, I don’t even have her show up in the alternate timeline, a sure sign that I am a bit stumped as to how to feature her properly.

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Sep

2016

Portrait of a Character – Cyril Morgan Yarin

Cyril Morgan Yarin bridges two time periods.

Origins

So I needed for Mack MacKenzie to have an attorney to help with the technical and legal issues of owning and running a barnstorming sports team. And the idea of marrying the future Boris Yarin and the past Cyril Morgan was one I could not pass up.

Portrayal

Portrait of a Character – Cyril Morgan Yarin

Yarin is played by actor Michael Caine.

I love this actor’s accent, his pleasantness, and also that he seems to be an intelligent person. I can absolutely see him playing Dana MacKenzie’s lawyer.

Personality

Intelligent, down to earth and also highly skilled, Cyril is a cross between the older Cyril and Boris. That is, he is kindly like the elder Cyril but also, maybe just a little, nervous like Boris.

Relationships

Cyril has no known relationships.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to his existence in the Mirror.

Portrait of a Character – Cyril Morgan Yarin

Just like any other intelligent person, he would be ruthless and would probably rise up in the ranks pretty quickly. Also, he could even, potentially, be a lower or even mid-level politician on the other side of the pond.

Quote

“All right. Now, you and I have full attorney-client confidentiality. I am not going to go to the authorities if you tell me something illegal is afoot, unless you or anyone else is in relatively immediate physical peril…. So if your engineer finds something that is, shall we say, off the grid, you can tell me. In fact, I would prefer it if you did, so I’d have an idea of what to expect.”

Upshot

Misty, like every other team owner, needs a lawyer to handle the messy business of player contracts. For her, an ex-convict with a ship that barely skirts legality at times, the need is even greater, and Cyril fits the bill rather neatly.

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Sep

2016

Portrait of a Character – Alice Trent

Alice Trent is a time traveler.

Origins

This character was originally going to be a regular cast member but I didn’t really have room for her. Hence she showed up during The Point is Probably Moot in an alternate timeline.

Portrayal

Alice Eve as Alice Trent (image is for educational purposes only)

Alice is played by Star Trek: Into Darkness actress Alice Eve. Of course she has Star Trek cred from that.

Personality

Personable and polite, Alice in the regular timeline is a manners and protocols specialist. She is interviewed by the Temporal Integrity Commission as a possible companion agent for Rick Daniels. Paired together, they could conceivably cover historic state dinners, which is exactly what they end up doing.

In the alternate timeline, she is also an Islamophobe.

Relationships

Alice has no known relationships. Rick does not hit on her as he is already realizing that he’s in love with Milena Chelenska.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to a Mirror Alice existing, however as time goes on, all true counterparts have smaller chances of existing.

Alice Eve as MU Alice Trent (picture is for educational purposes only)

This is due to the passage of time and the addition of more generations (and, therefore, more variables).

Regardless of what she’d be doing in the Mirror Universe, it would have nothing to do with manners and fish forks.

Quote

“Why would you want to help those infidels? Are you all nonbelievers?”

Upshot

I have no place for this character, and I wish I did, as she could potentially be compelling. Maybe Carmen hires her after the events of He Stays a Stranger.

Now there’s an idea. And maybe I’ll see if I can explore it one of these days.

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Sep

2016

Portrait of a Character – Trinning

Trinning is a doctor.

Origins

The Daranaean Trinning started off as a teenaged boy, one of Mistra‘s children. In later stories, I realized I needed a doctor character, so he was elected. He also ended up sympathetic, a family man with a loving home life for all three of his wives.

Portrayal

Stock image of Anubis

Daranaeans aren’t really ‘played’ by anyone. I see Trinning as looking a bit like a Doberman with uncropped ears. As an adult, I picture him as resembling the Egyptian god of the dead, Anubis.

He could be a rather handsome Daranaean.

Personality

Kind, intelligent, and loving, Trinning sees curing Thylacine Paramyxovirus as being his life’s work. But he also comes home to a rousing, loving family life, where he does his best to treat his three wives as equally as possible. He even treats his third caste wife with dignity and respect. That’s still rare in Daranaean society.

Relationships

Kathalia

Trinning’s Prime Wife is a high class Daranaean woman, and is a daughter of Acreon, their war hero. Sharp-eyed readers will remember her from Some Assembly Required, and her father from Take Back the Night. In Some Assembly, Kathalia shows a particularly enlightened attitude by referring to her half-sister Morza (who is a secondary female) as her sister and dropping the half- prefix.

Jamae

In Some Assembly Required, this secondary confesses to her friends that she thinks Trinning smells the best of any boy. In Flight of the Bluebird, he refers to her as his first love.

Tamira

This third caste female is only seen in Flight. She is niece to lab ‘volunteer’ Fyra and mother to Erda, who is a toddler.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to Trinning existing in the Mirror Universe.

Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of the dead

Because the Y Chromosome Skew only affects human (Terran) males, the Daranaeans would not necessarily have a population skewing heavily male. And in the prime universe, their population skews heavily female, hence their caste system.

Therefore, it’s possible that he would have only one wife on the other side of the pond. Without a caste system (I have never written MU Daranaeans, but the idea is of some interest to me), he might just marry his first love, Jamae.

Quote

“The table has four legs, and none of them are any longer than the others. If they were, the table would fall. You are one of my loves, regardless of your caste.”

Upshot

When I wrote the first Daranaean stories, it seemed as if the men would invariably be the bad guys. Trinning, instead, is a hero.

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Aug

2016

Portrait of a Character – Rellie

Rellie is a kind of short order cook.

Origins

During Temper, the only intelligent way to get Lili onto the Defiant was for her to be disguised as a Calafan slave and work in a kitchen. This meant creating a kitchen manager (the position would not really be that of a head chef). Enter the Xindi humanoid Rellie.

Portrayal

Mia Sara as Rellie (image courtesy IMDB)

Rellie is played by actress Mia Sara. This lovely actress has a long history and has science fiction cred.

Personality

Efficient and smart, she will only go so far to look out for her charges. They are (Lili, Polloria, and Aliwev) adults and are not really her responsibility. She just wants to save her own skin, or at least make her job easier. When Lili arrives, and knows how to cook, it’s as if a dream has come true for the oppressed slave kitchen manager.

Relationships

Rellie has no known relationships.

Mirror Universe

Rellie has only been a part of the Mirror.

Mia Sara as the prime universe Rellie (image is courtesy of the DC Comics wiki)

Does she exist in the prime universe?

It’s an interesting question.

I sometimes confuse her a bit with Dayah, who is also a Xindi humanoid, and is of a similar vintage.

But their fates are rather different, even though they are both oppressed women. Rellie, like a lot of Mirror Universe women, has to be ruthless and self-serving. In our universe, those personality traits would be looked upon as flaws.

Quote

“We must always tell them that we can do anything they ask. No matter if it seems at all impossible or difficult. You have been doing this for years. Surely you know that by now. Never show any weakness.”

Upshot

I created this character for a specific purpose, and I think she fulfilled it fairly well. Since her placement was the result of the second alternate timeline in Temper, there are any number of other Mirror Universe niches she could fill. Maybe I’ll pick her up again.

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Aug

2016

Portrait of a Character – Boestus

Boestus is a politician.

Origins

For Flight of the Bluebird, I wanted there to be Daranaean elections. Much like the United Nations does today, the USS Bluebird and its captain, Malcolm Reed, would be brought in, in order to observe and prevent violence at polling places. Vidam was already going to be the liberal candidate. He needed an opponent, so I created the conservative standard-bearer, Boestus (pronounced beast-us).

Portrayal

Irish wolfhound puppy

Like most Daranaeans, Boestus isn’t really ‘played’ by anyone. He is an older fellow so I see him as being gray. This image of an Irish wolfhound works well.

Personality

Traditional and somewhat unyielding, Boestus feels that the traditional Daranaean life and home are important. He wants them to continue. But he is directly confronted by its inherent injustices. Unlike a lot of present-day real life politicians, he is capable of seeing the error of his ways, and learns how to change.

Relationships

Nitha

Like all Prime Wives, Nitha was very expensive. But she is concerned when the end is coming for Shura. Unlike what happens in other traditionalist Daranaean households, she may be higher up in the food chain than Carya and Shura are, but she isn’t cruel to them.

Carya

The secondary wife of Boestus is also somewhat defiant and is protective of Shura, who cannot defend herself.

Shura

In a traditional Daranaean household, a third caste female is called ‘last caste’ and is euthanized at menopause and seen as being useless. But Shura stands up for herself, an act that helps Boestus to see the error of his ways and change his mind.

Mirror Universe

As with many other characters, there are no impediments to Boestus existing in the Mirror Universe.

Arkin’s, chiot Irish Wolfhound, propr. L. et S. Pruvot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The MU is a tougher place, but the Y Chromosome Skew only affects human (Terran) males and not Daranaeans.

With a more balanced society, at least in terms of the gender of children being born, Boestus might end up with just one wife. For a conservative looking to better himself and social climb, he would likely only end up with Nitha.

Quote

“I am supposed to protect you. Acreon is taking on these humans’ ways far too much. You have seen what their women do, and how they act and how they dress. It is; it is not right.”

Upshot

I really loved working with this character, understanding him as a person and making him a rival but not a bad guy. Boestus is the very essence of people who can disagree without being disagreeable, who can admit when they are wrong, and who can change. I would like to write him again some time.

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Aug

2016

Portrait of a Character – Dayah

Dayah is a doctor – almost.

Origins

For Together, I wanted a wise woman who would have a bit of medical-type training. Enter the Xindi humanoid, Dayah.

Portrayal

Kate Winslet as Dayah (image is for educational purposes only)

Dayah is played by actress Kate Winslet.

The actress is beautiful, yes, but also somewhat chameleon-like. She has played old-fashioned before (Titanic, anyone?) and so I think she could almost inhabit the role of a young grandmother type if she wanted to.

Personality

Intelligent and reserved, Dayah knows the score in the Witannen facility and teaches what she knows to Lili. She is also a big part of Lili and Jennifer surviving the experience.

Relationships

Emmiz

In the Witannen holding facility, Dayah is paired up with every male, but it’s Emmiz who she really cares about. He loves her back, even though she is old enough to be his grandmother.

Mirror Universe

There are no impediments to Dayah existing in the Mirror Universe, although I doubt she would be anyone’s prisoner.

What If (Kate Winslet song) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I write Mirror Universe women as being overly beholden to men, but that might only apply to human (e. g. Terran) females. What if it didn’t apply to Xindi humanoids?

If that were the case, then Dayah might have the opportunity to have an independent kind of life, with self-determination. It’s an intriguing idea.

Quote

“Just, consider how today is going to be, and tomorrow, here. And think of the future later, when it has come and it matters. Be happy today. Tomorrow you could be in another unit, and things would not be so nice.”

Upshot

I don’t think I’ll be able to find a place for this character, but I do like her. About the last she’s heard of is a letter to Lili, so maybe they continue to correspond. I don’t know.

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Portrait of a Character – Geordi LaForge

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Rosemary Parker

Theme Music

Mirror Universe

Quote

Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Yi’imspi

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Tag Shaw

Mirror Universe

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Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Emmet Kent Hoberman

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Sandy Hoberman

Dana MacKenzie

Darragh Masterson

Mirror Universe

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Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Daniya

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Mirror Universe

Quote

Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Cyril Morgan Yarin

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Mirror Universe

Quote

Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Alice Trent

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Mirror Universe

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Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Trinning

Origins

Portrayal

Personality

Relationships

Kathalia

Jamae

Tamira

Mirror Universe

Quote

Upshot

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Portrait of a Character – Rellie